Canonical kernel engineer Juerg Haefliger has provided an update about the Ubuntu compatibility with the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s (Gen 1) laptop.
The 13-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is an ARM laptop that utilizes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx (3rd gen) processor with an Adreno 690 GPU, 16 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD, and a reported ~28 hour battery life. The laptop arrives with Windows 11 Pro for ARM pre-installed.
Last year, an unofficial but experimental Ubuntu 23.10 installation image was launched for this device, led by Juerg and the engineering contributions he made to support it. The ISO was accessible for download from the Ubuntu CD image server.
However, an installer image for the latest Ubuntu 24.04 LTS has not been released yet, prompting some to wonder if the project has been put on hold.
Thankfully not, as Juerg explains:
“The goal was to have official support in Noble but that plan unfortunately didn’t materialize primarily due to lack of resources. The community (read me 😄) is still working on adding support to Noble even though it might not end up being an officially supported platform.”
Differences in Ubuntu 24.04 support for the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s (Gen 1) include:
- linux-laptop kernel removed (upstream kernel now supports this device)
- X13s configuration now provided by ubuntu-x13s-settings package
Juerg has proposed a workaround for installing the distro by using the existing Ubuntu 23.10 ISO, then manually upgrading to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The new configuration package isn’t currently available in the esteemed archives, so it needs to be installed from a PPA.
Several problems persist, such as the web cam not functioning, low speaker audio out-of-the-box which can be fixed in alsamixer settings, a lack of hibernation or low-power suspend mode, and upcoming support for TPM and fingerprint reader.
That said, the fundamental features are already implemented, which is promising as ARM laptops offering high performance are becoming increasingly widespread, mainstream, and suitable for daily use.
It’s not to disparage inexpensive Mediatek Chromebooks, Linux-driven PineBook, or going back a bit further, the Ubuntu netbook powered by ARM, eCafe that was launched in 2011, but Apple Silicon demonstrates that ARM is primed for mainstream use.
Anyway, that’s the state of Ubuntu 24.04 support for this device. Does it leave you eager to experience Ubuntu on an ARM laptop?
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s (Gen 1)
While this device is no longer the newest or fastest model, it remains an exciting, and arguably necessary, vanguard. It’s one of the few mainstream ARM laptops outside of Apple Silicon (by way of Asahi) to offer Ubuntu support.
You can buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s on Amazon US for less than $500. Of course, if you’re happy to shop around and buy refurbished via eBay etc you’ll find it cheaper still.
If you’re not specifically looking for an ARM laptop, it’s advisable not to make hasty decisions. The hardware support for ARM laptops is not as smooth or universal as the ‘one ISO suits all’ environment provided by Intel/AMD, and the app compatibility is also variable.
As it stands, you’ll get more value for your money and a simpler experience by choosing AMD and Intel laptops.